Independent traders limited to 3800 could there be a adaptation to this.

[Jinx]

powertrading is a term that does not so much describe the trading - but describes the ooc suspicioun that through this trading, a detrimental act is commited ( like the purchase of an expensive ship that is then abused ).

yes - trading in all forms, shapes is usually beneficial ( except such classics like harris / mc duff - but that was rather a bug and not a route )

the problem many players have with powertrading is that they project suspiciouns onto other players who they suspect to be harmful for the overall gameplay - very often that has no foundation though. - traders are indeed the bread and butter of all disco roleplay.

when there re no traders in an area, the area dies. this effect is not restricted to the actual route itself - but to the factions affected by that. - when all traders, "powertraders" as well as normal traders ( wherever the difference ) left liberty. - the liberty unlawfuls would die ( after a jolly period where they just pvp with the lawfuls for nothing much but pvp itself ) - and then - liberty would die.


HOWEVER - generic traders were cut down to encourage a stronger identification with the character. - an "independent trader" often doesn t even know what he is representing. ( often, not always ) - many a traders were trading their goods - thinking very little of what actual role they would take up in sirius other than making money and being the occasional target for pirates.


so the reason we decided to cut them down was to encourage identification. - its a chainreaction. - many groups in sirius are focussing their effords around other factions. - but an independent trader has no faction, henceforth, its hard to focus a RP about it.

here is an example:

- gaians dislike BMM, planetform and spa and cruise
- independent traders are nither here nor there. - but if 99% of the traders you see are independent, a great portion of the gaians roleplay cannot be RPed. - so they are "reduced" to common piracy.
- in order to take away from independent traders and give to other factions. - the idea was / is - to encourage more BMM, planetform and spa and cruise players - hence "unlocking" more RP for the gaians ( as an example )

now - such RP opportunities are - while exciting - of course harmful for the trader - when the trader is focussed on making money only. - so there would not be much incentive for a trader to be BMM if he can be independent.



the above is the explanation and the reasoning why we decided it was beneficial to limit generic traders.

why can we not allow the adv. train back to the generic traders? - cause the adv. train is just a generic transport with default abilities.

if for example ... the adv. train was noticably WEAKER than the house trains - such an approach could be considered. - the usual.... trading power for freedom deal.

for example - if house transports had like twice the armour and more guns and a REAL chance to kill the unorganized or lone pirate every now and then... while the adv. train would remain a "target practice". - but such a thing needs a lot of rebalancing. - thats no decision that can be made ligthly.

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